Andretti F1 team could represent USA “properly”

40 comments on “Andretti F1 team could represent USA “properly””

1. 

   Marvin The Martian (@marvinthemartian)
   19th February 2023, 0:21

   “So far….”

   That says so much about working with Alonso 🙂
2. 

   PeterG
   19th February 2023, 0:23

   Let Andretti in.

   Let any other teqm that wishes to enter and has the resources, commitment etc.. and is able to field 2 cars.

   This whole closed off era of F1 with the stupid franchise system just makes the sport look like an elitist joke.

   But of course if they were a full factory Porsche team they would be welcome with open arms even knowing that manufactures never stick around. At least private independent teams entering because of a love and passion for the sport are less likely to walk away because of a boardroom shakeroom and change in marketing direction like the manufacturers are.
   1. 

      PeterG
      19th February 2023, 0:27

      I mean every manufacturer on the grid right now aside from Ferrari have come and gone multiple times for multiple different reasons.

      And they will all leave again.

      Honda alone has come and gone 3 times over the past 30 years. Twice in the last 15. Does anyone really expect them to still be part of F1 in a decade?

      But still lets throw everything behind the manufacturers for marketing purposes. Who cares about the independent privateer teams right.
      1. 

         Darryn Smith (@darryn)
         19th February 2023, 2:16

         I honestly don’t even know if Honda is in F1 now or not at this point. Let Andretti in.
      2. 

         anon
         19th February 2023, 9:04

         PeterG, whilst that sentiment is often expressed, how does the lifespan of the average privateer team compare to that of the average manufacturer entry?
         1. 

            S
            19th February 2023, 10:23

            I’d suggest that since most manufacturers purchase ‘privateer’ teams and then later sell them, the comparison would strongly favour the teams themselves over their temporary (manufacturer) owners. Right?

            Does this comparison take into account team finances? It doesn’t really seem fair to compare a manufacturer-funded team to a relatively poor team like Life Racing, Simtek, Pacific or Forti (for example).
            Ultimately money buys longevity in F1, and manufacturers can spend plenty of it if they feel like it…
         2. 

            grat
            20th February 2023, 21:43

            Depends on how you define “private”, but Williams, McLaren, Sauber and Haas are still here. Jordan, Tyrrell, Stewart, Minardi and Toleman were all privateer teams that have been traded around, with manufacturers buying them and selling them when they lose interest.

            Jordan is now Aston Martin, Tyrrell is now Mercedes, and Stewart is now Red Bull– but much of Jordan’s life has been private, Stewart was briefly Ford and then Jaguar, Mindardi’s never been a manufacturer team, and Toleman turned into Renault– who’s been in and out of the sport repeatedly since 2000.

            Ferrari and Mercedes have been the only two teams that really seem to be interested in Formula 1 long term– it’s been observed that Toto runs Mercedes more like a privateer team, and Ferrari only builds cars so they can afford to race in F1.

            Manufacturers have not impressed over the past few decades.
            1. 

               Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
               21st February 2023, 1:40

               Jordan is now Aston Martin

               No. The company that first participated in Formula 1 as Jordan went into administration in 2018 and no longer exists.

               Lawrence Stroll was granted a magical new F1 entry ahead of the 2018 Belgian GP, and that is the company currently racing under the Aston Martin banner.
   2. 

      Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
      19th February 2023, 0:53

      Let Andretti in.

      Let’s not give away several hundreds of millions of dollars to Mr Andretti and his investors.
      1. 

         Darryn Smith (@darryn)
         19th February 2023, 2:17

         Who’s the “us” you are talking about? Don’t they have to pay several hundred million dollars to enter and then get no prize money for 3 years?
         1. 

            Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
            19th February 2023, 11:13

            and then get no prize money for 3 years?

            I don’t think that’s on the books anymore.
         2. 

            Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
            19th February 2023, 11:14

            And sorry for accidentally reporting your comment, did a Mr Fumblefingers here.
      2. 

         Nick T.
         19th February 2023, 2:49

         Your comment makes no sense.
         1. 

            Nick T.
            19th February 2023, 2:50

            I was replying to Proesterchen or whatever the username that makes no sense is.
      3. 

         SteveR (@stever)
         19th February 2023, 5:41

         Why are you so concerned about F1 teams money? Do you have some financial connection? Really odd. Your postings are consistently addressing the profitability of F1 teams, not the actual competition.
         1. 

            Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
            19th February 2023, 11:21

            Your postings are consistently addressing the profitability of F1 teams, not the actual competition.

            Because that is what Mr Andretti and his investors are here for.

            They are trying to take advantage of the current set of commercial agreements by gaining an F1 entry at a 9-figure discount.
            1. 

               Mark in Florida
               19th February 2023, 19:08

               RedBull bought team for 1pound. Brawn GP bought Honda for 1 pound. Your point is totally invalid.
               You just don’t like Americans. Your absolute disdain for America is pretty well known on this site.
               Americans weren’t up in arms about Ford selling Jaguar GP. Why are you so incensed about someone who is a race team owner with a long, long history of success coming into F1?
               It generally goes back to what I’ve always said. Europeans want our money not our teams. The only time you want to see Americans is if you need us to get rid of an invader. Hypocrite.
            2. 

               Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
               19th February 2023, 21:16

               I love how you’ve chosen an article that leads with a naturalized US citizen calling out a natural-born US citizen for not representing the US “properly” to comment, and wrongly, btw, on how I supposedly “disdain America”.

               And just hours after I chose Logan Sargeant over Alex Albon (and publically, too) in this year’s teammate poll.

               I’m looking forward to you returning with a proper argument, rather than trying to litigate your imaginary grievances here.
            3. 

               SteveR (@stever)
               21st February 2023, 5:07

               I’m looking forward to you returning with a proper argument, rather than trying to litigate your imaginary grievances here

               Yep, back at you.
         2. 

            MichaelN
            19th February 2023, 11:45

            @stever It’s fair enough to be critical of Andretti’s aims here. When so many of the existing teams seem to be leeching off the sport’s commercial revenues without making a credible effort to actually be competitive, Andretti needs to prove he’s different from the likes of Williams and Haas to be seen as different. And with what he’s offered so far, there’s no clear path to wins there. No real manufacturer backing, no history of building their own cars, etc. So what is his aim in getting involved in F1?
      4. 

         S
         19th February 2023, 8:32

         Why not?
         It’s not your money, nor does it belong to any of the existing teams.
      5. 

         grat
         20th February 2023, 21:46

         Since Andretti would be required to build an entire team, including cars, at least one factory, and hire a significant number of personnel, and THEN pay $200 million up front in a bribe, just to enter the building (not to mention the FIA entrace fee)…

         You have a very strange definition of “give away”.

         Then again, most of your arguments seem based on the concept that black is white, up is down, and only your opinions are valid, so….. /shrug
         1. 

            Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
            21st February 2023, 1:45

            You have a very strange definition of “give away”.

            The value of an F1 entry outstrips the costs of entering into Formula 1 under the current set of commercial agreements by several hundred million US dollars.

            Which is why Mr Andretti and his investors are trying so hard to gain an entry while these agreements are still in place.
            1. 

               SteveR (@stever)
               21st February 2023, 5:10

               So we should, by your reasoning, reject any new F1 team. What is your problem? Do you have some sort of financial interest in F1 or do you just like to rile people up? I suggest it’s the latter.
            2. 

               Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
               21st February 2023, 8:37

               So we should, by your reasoning, reject any new F1 team.

               I have said, on multiple occasions, that new entries should be extremely limited for the duration of the current set of commercial agreements, with exceptions granted only to entrants adding exceptional value to the sport. (works entries from Honda, Porsche, and Hyundai/Kia come to mind for somewhat different reasons)
   3. 

      Massa
      19th February 2023, 2:14

      I think another important point to consider is that the good F1 drivers are racing into the eor 40s now.
      The current grid is pretty stacked with good drivers and a fair few exceptional ones too. If they all so wish and are competitive they can easily race into their early to mid 40s. And that’s another reason the grid will need 26 cars to allow for new drivers when the teams don’t want to get rid of the current bunch or want to later take them on for their experience.

      A few more teams is good for the long term health of the sport
   4. 

      MichaelN
      19th February 2023, 11:39

      an elitist joke

      If only it was elitist! There are maybe two or three competitive teams in F1, the rest is just there for reasons best known to themselves. But whatever it is, they’re not making the effort required to win races.
      1. 

         sam
         19th February 2023, 17:36

         Right… you know more about it than actual Racing Teams. Grow up.
      2. 

         some racing fan
         19th February 2023, 21:06

         Grand Prix racing is, and always has been, elitist- even back to its earliest days at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. It is probably the single most elitist form of professional competition in the world.
3. 

   Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
   19th February 2023, 0:51

   It’s almost sad for Mr Andretti and his investors to involve his father in their shenanigans.

   Let’s hope he is at least well compensated.
   1. 

      SteveR (@stever)
      19th February 2023, 5:45

      Maybe these are honest responses by Mario, What is your hate for Andretti? It’s pretty consistent but not understood and is, honestly, getting pretty old.
      1. 

         anon
         19th February 2023, 9:17

         @stever it seems to be more that he’s rather sarcastic towards most people, not just Andretti.

         That said, whilst not being in agreement with the statement, I can see why somebody would be a bit cynical about Mario playing the nationalistic card with remarks such as wanting “a team that represents this country properly”, despite the fact that Michael has confirmed that his planned team would be based in the UK.
         1. 

            some racing fan
            21st February 2023, 10:50

            That is a really dishonest response. The implication is so clearly there you’d have to be really mentally slow to miss it.

            With mental gymnastics like that, you’d go straight to the Olympics floor routine finals.
4. 

   Nick T.
   19th February 2023, 2:47

   Marko backs Horner over Andretti-Cadillac stance

   Although the FIA has now instigated a formal process to consider expanding the grid from 10 to up to 12 teams, F1 itself – and the existing teams – are worried about a dilution of income and prestige.

   McLaren supremo Zak Brown revealed this week that at the forthcoming meeting of the F1 Commission, a proposal to raise the new-team entry fee from its current $200 million will be discussed.

   Christian Horner, the Red Bull team boss, says the easiest way for the Andretti bid to end the controversy is simply by buy an existing team.

   He told the Daily Mail he has “nothing against Andretti and Cadillac”, but allowing an 11th entry onto the grid is simply a matter of “who is actually going to pay for it”.

   “Red Bull was Jaguar, which was Stewart-Ford,” Horner said. “Look at Mercedes, who go all the way back through Honda to BAR to Tyrrell. Aston Martin to Jordan. That has been the procedure for many years.”

   Marko, a fellow top official at Red Bull, told Sport1: “There is nothing to add to Christian’s statements.

   “A financial basis must always be secured.”

   “The fact is that none of the current teams are for sale,” Michael’s father Mario Andretti said this week.

   “Michael and his team have already looked at that scenario extensively and nothing is available.”

   Horner’s argument makes no sense when they’re used to be essentially no cap on new teams. Seems like Liberty is going to somehow force the FIA and the team to accept a new team one way or another.
   1. 

      Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
      19th February 2023, 9:40

      “The fact is that none of the current teams are for sale,” Michael’s father Mario Andretti said this week.

      The fact is that Mr Andretti and his investors failed to come to terms with existing entries on multiple occasions, while others managed to acquire them.
      1. 

         SteveR (@stever)
         21st February 2023, 5:14

         So I guess, from your comment, that you were privy to the negotiations? Yeah, sure…..
         1. 

            Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
            21st February 2023, 8:29

            It’s public knowledge.

            As is Mr Andretti and his investors’ failure to acquire an F1 entry.
5. 

   BLS (@brightlampshade)
   19th February 2023, 12:57

   “F1” doesn’t want to let them in because they already have a preferred 11th/12th entry on the cards.
   The teams don’t want them because of money.

   Everything else is just dancing around the point, convincing no one.
   1. 

      F1 Codger
      19th February 2023, 14:41

      Manufcturers may no longer leave F1 as often in the future as with a cost-cap the teams can make a profit and the racing then is itself free advertising for the brand, so why leave. Just a thought, things can change.
      1. 

         MichaelN
         19th February 2023, 14:53

         Not just that, the increased standardization of cars and engines means it’ll become increasingly hard to make a bad car. This is great news for manufacturers, who like F1’s appeal but fear being bad at it. It’s how the FIA, ACO and IMSA were able to tempt manufacturers back into the LMDh and LMH categories, and it’s a big reason Ford and Audi are coming to F1 in 2026.

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